Print

Please login or register.
1 Hour 1 Day 1 Week 1 Month Forever
Login with username, password and session length.

[Kangaroo1]

I have had a minor accident with my boat.... basically the boat was laying flat in the back of my car (the only way to transport it).... I had to brake suddenly and the boat shifted forward applying all of it's weight to the tip of the mast which hit the back of the passenger seat.

Suffice to say: I have a kink in my mast... or at least that's how it looks! The plastic "plug" that joins both sections of the mast together appears to have taken the worst of the stress (the weakest part?) so now if I look at the mast from the side it looks like it leans very slightly backwards at this point! Not a lot at the join, but quite visible from a distance. It now also appears to rock slightly slightly backwards at this point.

I've managed to remove the top section of the mast to expose the plug, but I can't get the plug out of the bottom section.

I was looking to re glue the top section in, and basically use a splint to ensure it is correctly aligned, but I'm worried that as soon as any stress is applied (i.e. when I next sail) it'll simply go again?

I'd be very grateful for any advice.

Thanks in advance.

 

[AlisterL]

If neither of the main mast sections are bent then it would seem that the plug has been deformed.
Any number of things could be used to repair or replace it, including a splint as you suggest. You might consider using a larger piece of tube with the same internal diameter as the external diameter of the original mast and sliding it over the top as this would support the mast from all sides. Another option would be to simply replace the mast entirely with a single piece of carbon fibre tube or aluminium or whatever.

Removing the plug could be done by inserting a suitable piece of dowel into the mast (once it's removed from the hull!) and tapping with a hammer.

Possibly the best advice would be to replace the plug - these parts do appear to be orderable as documented in the back of the instruction manual. It looks like PJ1028 is the one with the plug on it. Maybe your LHS could assist here.

HTH,

[Tombsy]

If you want to replace the mast and you have an archery shop nearby you could look for Easton arrow shafts, models 2413, and 2213 they will nest together and fit the stock hardware.

[Kangaroo1]

Hi Guys, thanks for the feedback.

Managed to source a new mast joiner (apparently that's the technical term!) from sails etc. which should be here tomorrow. I still have the problem of getting the existing plug out, so thanks for the advice on that. I did visit my local model shop today and found some carbon fibre tubing at the right diameter, for £8.95 per Metre..... is this a reasonable price?

I'll think about this as a future mod... I only went in to ask if they sold mast joiners, which they didn't, but still managed to leave the place £35 lighter!

Steve.